Must Get Label Glue Off Preprimed Lumber

Question: I request that someone please identify a product and/or process that will help to quickly remove an incredibly sticky and resistant label "glue" from the surface of pre-primed dimension lumber.

Product: Pre-primed pine branded CMPC Maderas S.A. of Santiago, Chile, sold in Maryland by Home Depot.

Problem: A 3" x 4" plastic label is attached to the good side of each piece of lumber with an amazingly sticky glue. (The UPC is glued to the not-as-good side.) We've been able to remove the plastic labels intact. However, the glue is left on the surface. We've tried a virtual chemistry lab trying to find an efficient way to removed these labels.

A product called De-Solv-It Contractors Solvent. But it's very slow going and the results aren't ideal.

We've Also:

(1) Talked with the lumber guy at Home Depot, where we bought the lumber. He recommended a product sold by... Home Depot, of course -- it didn't work. In all fairness, he was very earnest and I'm sure he meant to help.

(2) Called CMPC in Santiago, Chile. I left a message with an employee and a gentleman returned my call the next day. Turned out he was not in the right division. He promised to find someone in the lumber department. Our mutual language barriers didn't help, but that's certainly not his fault. Information from the mill is still pending.

So... perhaps some of you ladies and gentlemen have purchased this particular pre-primed lumber product that seems to have labels welded to the surface. If you've solved the glue removal problem, we'd be very grateful if you would share the "secret."

(post #69906, reply #27 of 33)

Of course peanut butter works because it has peanut oil, a vegetable oil. Just about any oil can be made to work but, for some reason, vegetable oil seems to work better.

Peanut butter will work well. Anything that contains a lot of vegetable oil, like brake fluid, will also work well. All a matter of what you have on hand. Good to keep filed away that in a pinch a dab from the PBJ in the lunch box or a few drops from the bottle of spare brake fluid can save the day.

Of course after your done smearing on the oil you need to remove the oil. Mineral oils are easiest to remove with mineral spirits or other solvent. They will work on vegetable oils but soap and water is more effective. A shot of 409 or Simple Green and a wipe with a damp cloth should get it.

(post #69906, reply #8 of 33)

When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

(post #69906, reply #13 of 33)

I'm thinkin' if he tries all these chemicals he'll end up with toxic sewage...Why not just use a torch than 36 grit it...lol

The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!

When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

(post #69906, reply #16 of 33)

I've had the same problem with HD's hardwoods and have given up on trying to remove the adhesive. Now, I just buy boards long enough to allow me to cut off the end with the label and toss it in the scrap barrel.

I believe that the lumber comes from the distributor with those labels already in place so I guess this one isn't HD's fault - lol.

(post #69906, reply #18 of 33)

I was around when a friend wanted to take the company labels off their utility truck in preparation to sell it. He ran down to the HD and grabbed some sort of Jasco adhesive remover. Didn't do anything on the truck, but those labels had been on the truck for 10 years...Maybe it would work on the glue from stickers. Products I personally have found helpful are Goof-Off and Goo Gone.

(post #69906, reply #23 of 33)

Assuming the tag is on the end of the piece, cut it off and return it to depot. They sell it by the foot so give a foot back to them, explain what the problem is. Enough of those returns, and maybe they'll finally take the complaint back to Chile.

I really dont feel it rude to point out inaneness.

If the tag is in the middle, return it all and go to lowes or a lumber yard.

(post #69906, reply #24 of 33)

a german woman once gave me excellent advice- all glue is either water based or oil based, and simple oils can remove oil-based glues. whenever i have the too-sticky problem, i pour on some baby oil and let it sit for an hour, or overnight if needed. similar to the peanut butter solution i suppose, but it does work without the toxicity and fumes of Hot solvents.

(post #69906, reply #33 of 33)

i know you are right- the whole conversation i didn't quote was about the basic types of glue originally, pre-"new" wonder chemistry. for the most part, many glue olabels you encounter today ae still either easily removed by soaking in water, or applying oil.i like starting with baby oil or vegetable oil from the kitchen pantry, because 9 times out of 10 it does the job easily and safely with no strong odors, and so often when i use strong solvents, they either damage the surface below or they just create a softer gummy mess without actually removing the glue.

(post #69906, reply #25 of 33)

This may sound odd, but vinegar will work on the glue if you can remove the label first, keep the area wet with the vinegar, wait a while. The glue will come right off, no nasty solvents. We bought an antique cabinet that had that plastic contact paper all over the inside. I went through all the solvents I could think of, with little or no effect. Vingar has an amazing number of uses, besides salad dressing. Oh, use white vinegar. Wine vinegar may stain the finish. Ha. Good luck, Bruce